A Nail Through the Heart : A Novel of Bangkok
Author(s): Timothy Hallinan
Poke Rafferty was writing offbeat travel guides for the young and terminally bored when Bangkok stole his heart. Now the American expat is assembling a new family with Rose, the former go-go dancer he wants to marry, and Miaow, the tiny, streetwise urchin he wants to adopt. But trouble in the guise of good intentions comes calling just when everything is beginning to work out. Poke agrees to take in Superman, Miaow's troubled and terrifying friend from the gutter. Then he agrees to help locate a distraught Aussie woman's missing uncle and accepts a generous payment to find a blackmailing thief. No longer gliding carelessly across the surface of a culture he doesn't really understand, suddenly Poke is plodding through dark and unfamiliar terrain—and everything and everyone he loves is in terrible danger.
Review(s):
“(A) tale of blackmail, extortion and revenge...spinning along at a speedy clip.”
“Excellent. The rich depictions of Bangkok’s seedy side recall John Burdett’s visceral mysteries.”
“Vibrant, deftly drawn characters...well-crafted...and ultimately entertaining.”
“Excellent. This is a twisted story. You can read and read. And never imagine the end.”
“A haunting novel...It’s fast, bold, disturbing and beautifully written. Hallinan is terrific.”
“Exhilarating.”
“Brilliantly conceived and beautifully rendered...Artful, compelling and entertaining. Kudos to Hallinan for an exceptional story.”
“A page-turner.”
“Rich with detail and sympathetic characters. From a very talented writer.”
“Well constructed, lively...full of misdirection, surprises, humor. A well-paced thriller.
ISBN: 9780061257223